Trying to find a new bat for my daughter

My daughter is too big for her tball bat that she has been using since 5 years old and I need to get her a new bat. She is 53 inches tall and 52 pounds and just turned 8 years old. She normally plays 8U coach pitch but for this season is playing with the dixie angels girl fast pitch level. In the spring she will be back at 8U coach pitch. She is pretty consistent in making contact with the ball, but is not home run hitter. What bat would you recommend? I would like for it to last awhile. She seems to prefer light bats. I would like the bat to be affordable but also good quality because money is super tight with 5 children. I do not know much about softball bats so any help is appreciated. thank you

At 8, if she isn't hitting a leather ball, then just get her the alloy bat that she likes the color of most. I'd be looking for a -11 around 29" in length, perhaps even 28" if she prefers light bats as you say.

If she is hitting a leather ball, I'd probably still stick with alloy if you don't want to spend money. The "less expensive" composite bats suck for the most part and are not worth the money. I'm talking about things like the LS, DeMarini, Easton and other composite bats (the best known of these is probably the DeMarini Vendetta) that have sticker prices (when new) from $100 - 200. If this is the case, look for either a closeout DeMarini CF (5,6 or 7) or a used bat of the same configuration in -11. You should be able to find one easily for around $100 or so and maybe even a bit less.

My daughter used a Miken - 12.5 last year and we really liked it. It was $100 so kinda mid level, price wise.

I think the balls are synthetic. Do they typically use synthetic this age? Thank you. What does the - means? Is the higher the number the better?

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER ZEPHYR COMPOSITE is this a good bat (I may be able to get a really good deal on it)? Or should I just stick with alloy?

Where is a good place to find closeout bats online? I live in a tiny town with only a walmart.

Madelyn Marie said:

Where is a good place to find closeout bats online? I live in a tiny town with only a walmart.

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First off, the - sign is the drop weight. In other words, a 30 inch bat with a -11 will weigh 19 ounces. A 29 inch bat that's a -12 will weigh 17 ounces. at your daughters age and weight, a 28" -11 or 29"-11 would probably be the appropriate weight and size for her. Also at her age, an alloy bat would be preferable for the price range you would be looking at. The alloys in that size will give you as much "pop" for the buck as the composites in the same price range. Justbats.com is one of the more popular sites that I purchase from as well as Amazon.com and don't discount Private Messaging (PM) Coresoftball20 on here. He may not carry alloy bats but he can order you any bat that your DD likes as long as it's a line (manufacturer) that he carries and will charge you far less than the retail price that you will find most places. That would truly be the first choice for me. I have purchased several bats from him before and both the service and the price were unbeatable.

Thank you, I never knew there were so many bat options until I started doing research.

Miken Halo light, Lousiville Slugger Zebra print bat, Demarini Bustos, Worth Storm are all good entry bats. The Miken and LS are composite, the Demarini and Worth are alloy.

Right now Dicks and Sport Chalet blow out last year models. Go with Alloy until about 12U. No need to get a composite for a RIF ball